Apparatus for graphitizing carbon.



P. L. T. HEROULT. APPARATUS FOR GRAPHITIZING CARBON.

APPLICATION FILED $12316, 1912.

1,084,274. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

INVENTOR JWW UNITED srAr s PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL Louis roussamr HER-QUILT, or NEW 'YonK, N. r, ASSIGNOR 'ro nracrnonn CQMPANY OF AMERICA, QF NIAGARA FA LS, NEW' YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR GRAPHITIZING CARBON- To all whom it may eoncem Be it known that I, PAUL LOUIS Tons- SAINT HiiiioUL'r, a citizen of the Republic of of air under such conditions that it is conelectric sidcrably heated, and is then heated to a graphitizing temperature electrically. The preheating of the carbon facilitates its conversion into graphite under the electrical .heat, and economizes the consumption of electricity involved in the second stage of the process. The process is also advantageous in that it permits of a ready regulation of the quantity subjected to the electrical current at a given time, and permits also of a very nice'regulation of the rate of treatment.

The accompanying drawing illustrates partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation an apparatus and process embodying the invention.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated,. the apparatus comprises a comparatively short shaft A of brick-work or the like forming the discharge end of the furnace, above which is a similarly constructed shaft B, flaring at its lower end so as to facilitate the discharge of the product, and constituting the electrical furnace roper. At opposite'ends of the Furnace B are two heavy carbon electrodes C and D, connected respectively to the plus and minus ends of the electric circuit. The broken carbon descends at a determined rate through the furnace l3 and forms a resistance between the electrodes G and D, so that it is heated by the current to a degree sufficient to thoroughly graphitize it. The amount of resistance offered by the body of carbon in the furnace B may be readily increased or diminished by adding specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed February 16, 1912. Serial No. 678,128.

Patented Jan. 13,1914.

. or removing horizontal rings of brick-work in the furnace wall.

Above the electrical furnace is a shaft E, open at the top for the escape of air and gases, the interior of this shaft having ,a diameter at least as small as that of the upper end of the electric furnace B so as to freely discharge the carbon thereinto, the shaft E forming preferably a direct continuation of the electric furnace. In the lower part of the shaft E is a ring F extending around the wall, with ports G opening inward, the ring being connected by a pipe H with a source of air under pressure.

The graphitizing material is discharged through the base A of the furnace on to a traveling carrier, such for example as the table J, the shaft K of which is mounted in hearings L and is rotated slowly by an electric motor M the speed of which is adjustable by means of a rheostat N. The to of the table is slightly below the bottom 0 the base A of the furnace, so that as the table is rotated it carries a part of the finished product with it, until the latter arrives at an oblique scraper O which is fixed in position and bears on the top of the table so as to scrape off the product into suitable bins.

.The furnace being once in operation, the passage of the electric current graphitizes the carbon in the furnace B. The air forced in to the preheating shaft through the tube F, combines with t 1e carbon and hydrocarbons. In other words it generates a large quantity of heat which preheats the carbon above. A continuous supply from the crush ersis passed into the top of the shaft, through a chute P for example, space being provided around this chute for the escape of air and gases. The carbon is broken to small size, such for example as that known as nut size, before being fed to the chute. If the graphitization is not sufiiciently thorough, the speed of rotation of the table J is reduced, and with it the rate of passage of the carbon through the furnace; in the contrary case the speed of rotation of the table is increased. The variation of the rate of passage of the carbon through the furnace varies both the preheating effect and the effect of the subjection to the electric current. The relation between the preheating and the electrical treatmentcan be varied independently of the rate of passage of the mixed with suitable binders, and molded or pressed into the desired articles.

What I claim is 1. An apparatus for graphitizing carbon comprising a tubular graphitizing chamber,

and a tubular heating chamber forming a direct extension of the graphitizing chamber, the lower end of the heating chamber coinciding in size with and constituting the upper end of the graphitizing chamber so that the material passes at substantially the same rate through the lower end of the heating chamber and the upper portion of the graphitizing chamber and so that the gases from the graphitizing chamber pass through the body of the material into the heating chamber.

2. An apparatus for graphitizing carbon comprising a tubular graphitizing chamber, and a tubular heating chamber forming a direct extension of the graphitizing chamher, the lower end of the heating chamber coinciding in size with and constituting the upper end of the graphitizing chamber so that the material passes at substantially the same rate through the lower end of the heating chamber and the upper portion of the graphitizing chamber and so that the gases from the graphitizing chamber pass through the body of the material into the heating chamber and means for introducing air into the body of the material in the bottom of the heating chamber to combine with said gases and preheat the material.

3. An apparatus for graphitizing carbon comprising a vertical tubular graphitizing chamber with an electrode at each end for passing a current of electricity through the carbon, said chamber being flared at the lower end to permit the free passage of the product.

4. An apparatus for graphitizing carbon comprising a Vertical, tubular, graphitizing chamber with an electrode at each end for passing a current of electricity through the carbon, said chamber being built of horizontal rings of brickwork and adapted to be readily increased or diminished in length by adding or removing rings of such brickwork, and means for causing the passage of the carbon through said chamber continuously and at a regulable rate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL LOUIS TOUSSAINT HEROUL'I.

Witnesses:

THOMAS l VJALLAOE, FRED i/VHITE, 

